The newly elected officers of the Supreme Student Council  had their leadership training and event planning seminar last March 22-23, 2012 at Cordova’s Alta Resort and Convention Center.

The activity provided the new SSC officers a full grasp of their responsibilities as student leaders.  SSC President Sweet Coleen Romano said that their objective was to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to make sound decisions, organizing and planning of activities and effectively lead themselves as well as the other members of the student body. The training helped in establishing trust and confidence to their fellow officers.

“Be cheerful, strive to be happy,” quoted Justice Secretary Leila de Lima from the famous Desiderata as she spoke before the graduates of the Indiana Aerospace University (IAU) on March 24, 2012 during its 19^th Commencement Exercises.

In the early part of her speech, De Lima went on to say that it was her first time to be guest speaker at an aeronautics institution, albeit she had been frequenting as guest speaker to law graduates in most law schools in Manila.  Aside from that, she also highlighted the recent developments of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).  As member of the board of the MCIAA, she brought to light that the board had not received any formal proposal as to the transfer of the MCIAA to Cordova, Cebu, and that matters pertaining to the move will still be deliberated.

In an interview with IAU Chief Executive Officer Harold Toring, he surmised that the transfer might hamper local businesses located near the airport. “Large-scale businesses in MEPZA will surely suffer the brunt of this move.”   AMT department head Engr. Rene Pono concurred by saying that there is a lot of work to be done should the transfer be carried out.  “Vast land has to be reclaimed and more roads will be built,” said Pono.

When de Lima was asked in ambush interview about plans by the government for the aviation industry here in country, she quipped: “Oh, definitely, there are big plans by the government. We need to improve and enhance the capabilities of all the stakeholders in the aviation industry because it’s going to be a big push to economic development if we have more efficient airports in the country in strategic areas.  The heart of the target is tourism improvement.”  On another note, she was also made to comment about the government’s stand of the K-12 program for the country’s educational system.  She said that the government really supports it, although it would come a long way in terms of inculcating more knowledge and training on the part of the students.

Prior to the commencement exercises, the Baccalaureate Mass was held at IAU’s St. Therese Chapel and was presided by Msgr. Achilles Dacay con-celebrated by Msgr. Jerome Mesina, OSA and University Chaplain.

Continue reading “Lufthansa trainees fly to Manila”